Library Outreach to Support Groups: A Case Study

Abstract

Information sharing is a key component of patient and caregiver support groups. Hospital libraries that provide consumer health and patient information services can increase their visibility among support groups through presentations, facilitator training, brochures, and other media. This case study details a project at a regional medical center in Virginia to provide outreach to groups that met regularly at the hospital or nearby facilities. Initial evaluation suggests that group members who attended librarian presentations are likely to use the health sciences library and MedlinePlus in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• consumer health groups
• outreach
• self-help groups
• support groups

This research was supported in part by an appointment to the NLM Associate Librarianship Program sponsored by the National Library of Medicine and administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. The author gratefully acknowledges the mentorship of Lois Culler, Director of the Inova Fairfax Hospital Health Sciences Library, on this project.